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| Willie Carson |
When questioned as to how he extracted the very best from a filly who was not given an iota of a chance by the bookmakers and punters alike, Caron’s brief reply was that “ She was going so well, I merely gave her a free rein” – typically refusing to take any credit for the filly’s brilliant performance.
Rather surprisingly, Carson had very poor apprenticeship. In four years with Gerald Armstrong, he had only one winner. It was only after losing his apprentice claim that Carson started dazzling with his saddle artistry. He joined Bernard van Custen to ride for Lord Derby.
What a partnership that turned out to be. He snatched the jockeys’ title from Lester Piggott in 1972 with 132 winners and went even better in 1973 with 164 winners. The very next year, he claimed the Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks with Dibidale. Had Carson not suffered a saddle-slip, he might have picked up the Epsom Oaks as well. He finished the course without the saddle and was disqualified as the weightcloth dropped out.
Royalty always held a special spot in Carson’s heart and he claimed that the highlight of his life was aboard the Queen’s filly Dunfermline who won the Oaks and the St Leger. The year was 1977 – the Silver Jubilee year of Queen Elizabeth II. He won the jockeys’ championship once more in 1978 with 182 winners. Though Troy was the icing on the cake in 1979, Carson was not satisfied to sit back on his laurels. In 1980, Carson piloted Henbit to the winning post of the Derby at Epsom. Two Derby triumphs in as many years made him the rage of the ring wherever he went.
In 1988, Carson rode a horse in the Epsom Derby called Minsters Son. The colt was bred by Carson himself and it would have been a unique performance had he won. However, though he failed to place at Epsom, he went on to win the St Leger in style.
